Sacramento Muslim leaders are working with law enforcement ahead of Friday prayer, in the wake of a shooting massacre in New Zealand that left at least 40 people dead.

Author:
Chris Thomas

Published:
12:13 AM PDT March 15, 2019

Updated:
6:09 AM PDT March 15, 2019

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The executive director of the Sacramento chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has family members in New Zealand. He was thankful to learn they were safe following the terror attack at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

"There's actually a lot of folks here that have family in New Zealand. There are also a lot of folks who have settled there that have left wartorn countries to find safe haven and unfortunately they were murdered," said Basim Elkarra.

San Francisco Police tweeted following the events in New Zealand officers will be making extra passing calls of Mosques. Sacramento leaders are working with law enforcement as well.

"The community has done training for this type of scenario. We work closely with law enforcement throughout the region for this type of scenario," said Elkarra. "The community is trained. There are security guards. Muslims who happen to be police officers or deputies go to Friday prayer at the different Mosques."

CAIR board member, Aliane Murphy-Hasan, says these attacks on houses of worship have become all too common.

"Almost all religions are taking steps. People are going into Christian churches...in the Jewish temples...it's an attack on religion," said Murphy-Hasan. "I can't let these crazies make me crazy. I'm going to go about my life. I'm going to do what I do, and I'm going to pray to Allah."

ABC10 is told leaders are also looking at ways to remember the victims in New Zealand.

"There are discussions taking place to have a special funeral prayer to remember those who were killed," said Elkarra.